*01 Forces&Energy (8-45).

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Nature of forces
Key words
1 Measuring force applied
mass
force meter scalar
vector

Nature of forces
● Force is a vector, rather than a scalar,
quantity—i.e. it has both magnitude
and direction.
● Scalar quantities, such as mass and
length, are added using normal
2 Force applied to a trolley arithmetic but vectors are added
geometrically using the parallelogram
law which considers both their
directions and their magnitudes.

F 1 Measuring force applied

● The force applied to a trolley is
measured using a force meter or a
newton meter.

2 Force applied to a trolley

● When a force F is applied to the trolley
it accelerates in the direction of the
3 Opposing forces force.

3 Opposing forces
● If equal forces are applied to the
trolley but in opposite directions, the
F trolley will remain stationary or, if it is
F
already in motion, it will continue in
constant motion.

4 Vector nature of force

● If forces are applied at an angle, the
resulting motion is calculated using
the parallelogram law.
Equilibrium – no motion or constant motion
● In this case, equal forces are applied at
equal angles to the trolley's axle and
4 Vector nature of force the trolley moves in the direction
F shown.

force

θ
direction
© Diagram Visual Information Ltd.

of motion
θ

force